Journal file photoBikers can get safety tips at the Jersey City Medical Center.

May is Bike Awareness Month and Jersey City Medical Center, the lead agency for Safe Kids Hudson County, is offering tips on how to check tires and brakes for safety.

When it comes to safety, tires and brakes may be the most important part of a bike, but wearing a helmet is also essential. No matter what the distance is, JCMC urges parents, caregivers, and children to wear helmet each time they hop on a bike.

"Helmets could prevent an estimated 75 percent of fatal head injuries
and up to 45,000 head injuries to children who ride bikes each year," said Marissa Fisher, JCMC trauma nurse and Safe Kids Hudson County coordinator.

Fisher adds, "Sometimes children mistakenly believe that they don't need to wear
helmets when they're riding near home."

A helmet should also be labeled to indicate that it meets the standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Parents and caregivers are also reminded to: make sure the helmet fits and is positioned correctly on the head, make sure the helmet is the right size, and teach how to behave properly on a bike.